Hydrangea plant named ‘HP219902’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HP219901’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded to conical plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems that are reddish brown in color; freely and uniformly flowering habit; large inflorescences with numerous yellow green-colored sterile flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HP219901’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘HP219902’

Inventor: Niels Arts

Filed: Concurrently with this application Ser. No. 16/873,546

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant, Hydrangea Breeders Association B.V. of De Kwakel, The Netherlands, on Dec. 5, 2019, application number 2019/3316. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a panicle Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HP219901’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and Lengerich, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, large inflorescences with numerous showy sterile flowers, attractive sterile flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in August, 2012 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea paniculata identified as code number 11-0007, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea paniculata identified as code number 11-0005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, patent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lengerich, Germany in September, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands since March, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HP219901’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HP219901’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading and rounded to         conical plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong, thick and sturdy stems         that are reddish brown in color.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   5. Large inflorescences with numerous yellow green-colored         sterile flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flowering response as plants of the new Hydrangea flower later than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP219902’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP219902’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are larger than plants of         ‘HP219902’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘HP219902’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have slightly larger leaves than         plants of ‘HP219902’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have slightly larger         inflorescences with more fertile and sterile flowers than plants         of ‘HP219902’.     -   5. Sterile flowers of inflorescences of plants of the new         Hydrangea become blushed with dark pink in the autumn whereas         sterile flowers of inflorescences of plants of ‘HP219902’         maintain their yellow green color in the autumn.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP217902’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,332. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘HP217902’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are larger and more vigorous than         plants of ‘HP217902’.     -   2. Lateral branches of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier         and stronger than lateral branches of plants of ‘HP217902’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea flower about three weeks later         than plants of ‘HP217902’.     -   4. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea are larger with         many more sterile and fertile flowers than inflorescences of         plants of ‘HP217902’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HP219901’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HP219901’ grown during the autumn.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late summer and autumn in 27-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Lengerich, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial panicle Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea 18 months old when the photograph (FIG. 1 of 2) and description were taken and 21 months old when the photograph (FIG. 2 of 2) and autumnal color values were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘HP219901’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             paniculata identified as code number 11-0007, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             paniculata identified as code number 11-0005, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick; typically whitish brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to somewhat outwardly             spreading and rounded to conical plant habit; strong and             sturdy stems; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth             rate.         -   Plant height.—About 75 cm to 80 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 70 cm to 85 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             16 to 20 lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length, stem axis to base of inflorescence.—About 35 cm to             50 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 145B; lenticels, close to             165C. Developed: Close to 177B and 176B; lenticels, close to             165C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9 cm to 13 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Rugose; pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Prominent venation; glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138B; venation, close to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm to 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 145B tinged with             close to 178B. Color, lower surface: Close to 145C tinged             with close to 178B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles; panicles             broadly pyramidal in shape; flowers face upright to             outwardly depending on their position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 18             weeks after planting; flowering begins in the early summer             and is continuous throughout the summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one month on             the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers             last about three months on the plant, sterile flowers             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 650 to             700 fertile flowers develop per panicle and about 1,700 to             1,900 sterile flowers develop per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145C and 157A.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 145A.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width:             About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             157D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157D;             color does not change with development.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             four in a single whorl. Length: About 1.5 mm. Width: About             1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             157D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 157D;             color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             four or five in a single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width:             About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145C;             color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             four in a single whorl; slightly imbricate. Length: About 1             cm to 1.5 cm. Width: About 0.8 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Elliptic             to oval. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse to cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145B to 145C; in             the autumn, color becoming closer to 194C blushed with close             to 185D. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157A; in the             autumn, color becoming closer to 195D blushed with close to             185D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 mm to 3 mm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.75 cm to 2 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 80°             to 90° from branch axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 157C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About nine to ten. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 84D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 0.5 mm             to 1 mm. Stigma shape: Three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to             157C. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             157C. Ovary color: Close to 157C.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About five to seven. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther shape: Round. Anther color: Close to 157D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 84D. Pistils: Pistil             development on sterile flowers is rarely observed. Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: One-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 157C. Style length:             About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 157C.         -   Seeds, only produced by fertile flowers.—Quantity per             fertile flower: About 20 to 30. Length: Less than 0.5 mm.             Diameter: Less than 0.5 mm. Color: Close to 200C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea     grown under commercial production conditions have not been observed     to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown to     have good garden performance and to be tolerant to temperatures     ranging from about −38° C. to about 38° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HP219901’ as illustrated and described. 